THE man behind S5000 will no longer be officially involved in the V8-powered open-wheel category.
Industry veteran Chris Lambden’s contract with S5000 promoter Australian Racing Group expired at the end of last year and was not renewed.
Lambden had been category manager and just last month was pivotal in Giancarlo Fisichella’s cameo presence at the Adelaide 500.
“It’s true, my contract with ARG discontinued at the end of the year. So yes, I have got no official involvement with ARG and the category at this point,” he confirmed to V8 Sleuth.
Lambden, who still co-owns the car which has been regularly raced by Tim Macrow, has spent the best part of a decade flying the S5000 flag.
“It was my ‘dumb idea’ originally. That goes back probably nearly eight years now,” he said.
“I’m still a massive fan and to be honest I’m a bit frustrated that apparently finances and budgetary tightness have led to my departure.”
Lambden admitted frustration at certain speedbumps the category has faced, including “strange” safety concerns relating to its ability to run at Bathurst, but selected the recent Adelaide showcase as a highlight.
“It was a decent grid and it all looked pretty good, so I’m very much hoping that it will continue in that vein but it’s a difficult world out there at the moment economically so I guess we’ll just see,” he said.
So, what’s next?
“I have been in and around racing for nearly 50 years and I’m not quite ready for the couch yet.
“Other than part-owning a car, I’m interested in motor racing full stop so if a project or something crops up, obviously I would be happy to have a think about it.
“My heart is in S5000 – just the structure in ARG has changed to a point where I’m not officially involved, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do some stuff in the background.”
Ben McMellan is now listed as S5000’s category manager.
